Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension Services

It’s never a good time to have high blood pressure, or hypertension, but when you're pregnant, hypertension is even more concerning.

One in seven people will have high blood pressure during pregnancy, also called hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP). This includes chronic hypertension and postpartum hypertension — high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy and even months after delivery.

HDP can put you and your baby at risk of serious, sometimes fatal, complications, including preeclampsia after birth. The leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the U.S., HDP accounts for 44% of maternal deaths in the first six days after delivery.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also lead to future heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Pregnant people with HDP have more than double the risk of future heart disease compared to pregnant people who don’t have HDP. But it’s common to miss the warning signs of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

UPMC’s cardiology and maternal fetal medicine experts can help you stay heart healthy for life. Our experts help pregnant people and their doctors manage hypertension throughout pregnancy, during delivery, and after giving birth.

How Do You Care for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy?

If you see one of our ob-gyns, you’re in good hands for heart health. Our ob-gyns screen people for high blood pressure, including during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, your heart has to work extra hard to create and pump more blood for you and your baby. After birth, your body continues to adjust to changes that affect your blood flow and heart. Doctors aren’t sure exactly why, but these changes can cause HDP.

Left untreated, pregnancy-related hypertension doubles your risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in women. HDP also increases your risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia.

High blood pressure typically doesn’t have any symptoms, but routine blood pressure readings throughout pregnancy can catch it early. Blood pressure greater than 140mmHg over 90mmHg can lead to heart disease and pregnancy problems.

If your blood pressure is headed in the wrong direction, your ob-gyn can refer you to more specialized care through the UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

What Is the UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program?

The UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program is western Pa.'s only comprehensive, multidisciplinary service dedicated to treating pregnancy-related hypertension.

Our team includes cardiologists from the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and maternal fetal medicine specialists from UPMC Magee.

Working together, we help new mothers and pregnant people:

• Discuss risk factor screening and healthy lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, to reduce future risk of heart disease.
• Recognize possible warning signs of chronic and postpartum hypertension.
• Receive the right medical care during and after pregnancy.
• Reduce their risk of chronic hypertension and heart disease in the future.

Who does the program help?

Our program is designed to help:

• People with chronic high blood pressure who want to become pregnant.
• People who had or have high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• People diagnosed with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia.
• People who recently gave birth.

Where are you located?

Our offices are conveniently located in the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

Who are your experts?

When you meet with one of our doctors, your care is backed by years of training and expertise. Our doctors are also involved in research activities to advance medicine’s understanding of postpartum hypertension.

What Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Do You Treat?

If you're pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant, you need to get high blood pressure under control. Our experts are trained in both women’s heart health and maternal fetal medicine. They can identify, monitor, and treat high blood pressure before, during and after pregnancy.  

Postpartum hypertension disorders we treat include:

• Hypertension, or high blood pressure.
• Gestational hypertension.
• Preeclampsia.
• Postpartum preeclampsia.

What Postpartum Hypertension and Heart Health Services Do You Offer?

Our experts help you understand your long-term risks for cardiovascular disease. We provide these services to support a healthy pregnancy and to help you control your current and future risk of heart disease.

These services include:

• At-home remote blood pressure monitoring — You can track your blood pressure readings and share them with your doctor through virtual visits.
• Blood pressure screenings — During every pregnancy and postpartum or well-baby appointment.
• Blood and urine tests — Protein in your urine is a sign of preeclampsia.  
• Heart-healthy lifestyle guidance and support.
• Medicines to safely manage your high blood pressure — We know what blood pressure medicines are safe during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.
• Planning for the future — If you have or had HDP, we want to keep you and your baby as safe as possible now and in the future. Our maternal fetal medicine and cardiology experts can provide advice and support on contraception and birth control plans, controlling high blood pressure during delivery, and planning future pregnancies.

Tests we offer

If you need diagnostic tests to evaluate your heart health, we provide:

• Echocardiograms.
• Electrocardiograms (EKGs).
• Stress tests.

Most insurance plans cover our services.

Why Choose UPMC for High Blood Pressure Care During and After Pregnancy?

The UPMC Postpartum Hypertension Program offers women the collaborative services of both the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

Our cardiology and maternal fetal medicine experts understand the unique needs of new mothers and pregnant people. We know what signs to look for to keep you and your baby healthy. If you have postpartum hypertension, we know what blood pressure medicines are safe for you during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the world’s premier centers for complete cardiovascular care.

Our expertise in women's heart health includes:

• Evaluations and treatments tailored to a woman’s unique cardiac needs.
• Heart disease risk assessment and management.
• Heart disease treatment, including cutting-edge nonsurgical and surgical options.

Through long-standing relationships with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, you'll have access to the latest knowledge and pioneering research in every area of women’s health. 

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-09-05.